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Saturday, November 18, 2017

Meet Bhoke! Bhoke is about eleven years old but appears to
be about six. Bhoke's trouble started with the fact that her father's main way
of getting money is stealing. When Bhoke was quite young, her father taught her
to steal. Her father’s first two wives died and while he was married to his
third wife, he got caught stealing. While her father was in jail, Bhoke’s
stepmother beat her and punished her by withholding food because Bhoke caused
trouble by stealing and wetting the bed. Bhoke ran way from her stepmother and
was found by Our Father’s House staff who attempted to reunite her with her
family. Her father was out of jail but neither her step-mother or father would
take her back- ironically, because of her stealing.

Mwita, the director of Our Father’s House, decided to take
Bhoke into his home and for a few weeks she did well in a family environment,
but decided to steal from the family one day. Understandably, Mwita’s wife was
upset and concerned that there might be more stealing, so Bhoke left the house
of her own accord. Mwita found her and explained that she is welcome to return,
but she is scared to return because she knows she upset his wife.Currently, Bhoke is still living on the
streets or at different houses for a day or two at a time. Despite the
circumstances, Our Father’s House has hope that Bhoke will break her habit of
stealing and find a family.

Will you join us in prayer for Bhoke? That she might break
this habit of stealing and find a loving family to live with? Please
prayerfully consider sponsoring her or another child in the ministry.

If you want to sponsor Bhoke or make a one time donation to Our Father's House please click here. Make sure that you click on the "in honor of" box and put down Bhoke's name.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Yesterday could be considered a fairly large waste of time.
I worked for about three hours in the morning on emails, plans, and communications.
That was it, all I was afforded was three hours. So many things did not get
followed up, so many ideas not put down on paper, so many emails not sent to
people that are important to our work and the support of it.

The rest of my day was spent sitting and listening to people
talk, and try on occasion to insert a hopefully wise sounding word. People
talked about worries, they talked about dangers that stressed them out. They
wanted assurance on a variety of issues. People talked about how they had been
hurt, and in rare moments admitting how they may have hurt someone else. We
explored together what the church could look like fully formed, and I saw first
hand the struggle of trying to find the 1 out of 99, especially when it meant
having to humble oneself. All of these words, so little measurable progress,
and at the end of the day more than a little frustration with a long list left
undone.

Yesterday I was not a development coordinator or the
principal of a college. I was not a great administrator and I was not able to
make significant contributions that will take our organizations far into the
future. Yesterday, I simply tried to be a pastor to the people that needed me.
It is something that in the midst of job changes and moves across several
locations in the last year that I don’t feel like I have gotten to do nearly enough.
Maybe I will try it more often ;).

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Since I am not so great at blogging regularly I figured I would
try to give a short update on what is going on, and also ask for your prayers
for this current time in our lives.

Our family was given a gift this past year of getting some
time to rest and be rejuvenated after seven years in Tanzania. From December
2016 until May 2017 Liz and the kids were in Jackson, TN. The kids were able to
attend school and we were able to get to do many things that are harder to do
in Tanzania. Liz and I thought it was great, I am not sure the kids enjoyed all
of the dentist appointments, but it was needed and their teeth look great. I
was in and out during this time, but was able to spend a good part of that time
with them in Jackson.

June – August of this year we spent on the road speaking to
different churches and small groups about our work in Tanzania. While I cannot
began to thank everyone who hosted us, came to hear us speak, or shared their
kitchen table with us for means and conversation. There were so many who cared
for our children, made them feel special, ensured that they had fun, and generally
spoiled them. I hope that you all get a chance to read even this little thank
you and know how grateful we are. I look forward to continuing relationships
with the groups that we were able to connect with and look forward to our next
trip to the US.

The beginning of September I (Eric) returned to Tanzania by
myself. During our time in the US we applied for Derrick to become a US
citizen. A process that was supposed to be fairly straight forward and quick
has proven to be anything but. As of right now Derrick cannot leave the country
without running the risk of having to start all over again on his application.
So we are currently waiting. Waiting on answers, waiting to be reunited, just
waiting, something I know Liz and the boys feel even more keenly than I do.

That is where things stand for now. Prayers are appreciated that
we can be back together as a family soon.